Afghanistan- Johnson Meets Afghan Leaders on Security, Counter Terror

(MENAFN - Daily Outlook Afghanistan) KABUL - British foreign secretary Boris Johnson on Monday called on President Ashraf Ghani after arriving in Kabul, with both the sides discussing issues of mutual interest, particularly the ceasefire and the peace process in Afghanistan, a statement said. The statement from the President's media office said Ghani and Johnson discussed the ceasefire, the peace process, the fight against terrorism, regional cooperation, and Afghanistan's capacity and role in Asian economic development, especially in South and Central Asia. The British foreign secretary said his country supported the Afghan government's ceasefire with the Taliban. He added his country would remain with the people of Afghanistan. The secretary noted that the Britain continued to cooperate in civilian and military sectors with Afghanistan and continued to support the Afghan-led peace process. Ghani appreciated Britain's support for the ceasefire, the peace process and combating regional and global terrorism. Earlier, Johnson met his Afghan counterpart Hikmat Khalil Karzai and discussed with him security, counter-extremism, education and Afghanistan-Pakistan solidarity. The foreign secretary held talks with senior ministers in Kabul and met some of the 650 UK military personnel. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) received by Pajhwok Afghan News Karzai thanked the UK government and forces for their role in maintaining peace and stability besides cooperation in different areas in Afghanistan. The two sides discussed ceasefire in Afghanistan, the peace process and solidarity between Afghanistan and Pakistan, joint fight against extremism in the region and the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Supporting girls' education, including Afghanistan in the Action Plan for Prevention of Hard Physical Work and in Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process were other issues came up for discussion in the meeting, the statement concluded. (Pajhwok)